Exploring National Parks with Kids

We love our National Parks. Visiting national parks with our kids in tow has to be one of our absolute most favorite travel expeditions. Across the country, we’ve shared tips on exploring our country’s most beautiful, unique, and historic national parks.

National Park Week 2016

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the national parks service, we are celebrating National Park Week here at Trekaroo. This week, we’ll be sharing details on houseboating on Lake Mead, a comprehensive guide to Shenandoah National Park, & Mesa Verde National Park!

National Parks in Texas

Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the national parks. Explore 800,000 acres of remote wilderness Big Bend National Park which boasts three diverse ecosystems: the Rio Grande, the Chihuahuan Desert, and the Chisos Mountains. Guadalupe Mountains National Park offers numerous hiking trails in an extensive wilderness area.

National Parks in the Midwest

The Midwest boasts three major national parks. Isle Royale National Park is located on a remote island in Michigan that requires a boat or sea plane entrance. This lesser-known gem receives less visitors per year than Yellowstone gets in a day! Voyageurs National Park features diverse ecosystems and landscapes carved out by glacial movement from Minnesota’s history, and offers free camping! Lastly, Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park features family-friendly hikes through deep forests, beautiful scenery, and a fun train ride.

National Parks in the Northeast

The crown jewel of the northeast, Acadia National Park, situated on the eastern seaboard of Maine, was the first National Park established east of the Mississippi river. Explore tide pools, kayak, or hike through this beautiful park.

Heading to International Destinations?

Great Before-You-Go Resources

Although our Trekaroo guides are pretty awesome, we love the hands-on learning that takes place with kids using the National Geographic National Parks books series.

National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the United States– This guide might as well be the national park bible. It covers all 58 US National Parks, offering detailed information on how to get there, what to do, and when to go to each park. Trekaroo’s Editor in Chief has probably read it cover to cover a dozen times over the years.

National Geographic Kids National Parks Guide USA– This guide serves as the kid-friendly version of the original National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the United States. This guide engages children with great imagery, fun facts, and interesting details about all of our national parks. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself stealing this book away from your children. It is truly for all ages.

National Geographic Junior Ranger Activity Book– Heading out on a National Park road trip? Bring this book along to keep the kids entertained. It is filled with over 140 pages of puzzles, games, and facts centered around the National Parks. The best part? Your kids will be learning while having fun!